The Assumption Parish Catholic Charismatic Group is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
The following article, which first appeared in the parish’s bulletin, has been edited for length.
The leadership group, comprising Gloria ‘Peggy’ Birmingham, Carnetta Borrell, Len Stephen, Karl Uddenberg, and Edwin Blanc, wishes to give thanks to God for 25 years of ministry at the Church of the Assumption.
The ministry was first formed in 1992 by Fr Reginald Hezekiah (deceased), but this record is of the period 1995 to present, when the present leader, Gloria ‘Peggy’ Birmingham, was appointed by Fr Hezekiah. Soon after this appointment, Fr Hezekiah was appointed parish priest of the parish of St Charles Borromeo, Tunapuna, but he continued to be the Spiritual Director of the group.
The vision and mission of the group
St Dominic’s Home
The church lives to evangelise and as any evangelical group, we try to proclaim the Word Mark 16:16–20. Annually, we conduct a Life in the Spirit seminar as part of our outreach programme. Very early in our ministry, we were invited by Sr Francine OP, then manager of the St Dominic’s Home, to share the love and mercy of God with the young residents of the Home. Later she did the Life in the Spirit seminar with the youths.
The Lord honoured their faith and after being baptised in the Spirit, they, led by Sr Francine, continued as members of the prayer group.
Under the guidance of the then parish priest, Fr Garfield Rochard, the young St Dominic’s group became part of the Assumption group preparing for confirmation and were later confirmed there. Our ministry to the young people of St Dominic’s Home continued for about eight years in conjunction with our beloved Sr Francine who laboured so faithfully with the St Dominic’s Home children.
Ministry to the Parish and Beyond
Social Events
Our prayer group has hosted social events including:
We wish to thank God for the courage, wisdom, and strength which God gave us during our ministry, the challenges, and the blessings over these 25 years. It helped us to grow individually and as a group. We are grateful for the many persons who have supported and contributed to our ministry; may the Lord reward them richly.
We thank our Spiritual Director Fr David Khan, for his wisdom and sincere support and our present parish priest Fr Ashton Pierre CSSp, who is always there for us; may the Lord continue to bless him.
We thank the many priests who have responded generously over the years, when we needed to have the Sacrament of Confession administered to our Life in the Spirit Seminar participants, or to teach or minister healing to our meeting.
We also remember and pray a blessing on Carnetta Borrell and Edwin Blanc who were already mentioned and Michael and Margaret O’Brien, foundation members of our prayer group, who remain faithful to the ministry today.
May the Lord in His love continue to strengthen them in their journey of faith. Thanks also to Ann Huggins and Lenora Stephen who began in 1995 and who have remained faithful to the Lord and His ministry. They are still in the vineyard loving the Lord; may God bless them abundantly for their tremendous support.
We continue to be grateful to God for our brother who served for 17 years in the group, Peter St Hilaire, now a seminarian for five years at the seminary of St John Vianney and the Ugandan Martyrs, Mt St Benedict.
Reverend Deacon Ferdinand and David Pollard, who was a member of our group for 12 years, now ministering at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, may God strengthen them in their walk with Him.
We also remember with great affection our past members who have migrated as well as those who have gone home to the Lord. Those who have died include Theresa Gobin and Marcia Laurayne; may their souls rest in peace and may God remember them in His mercy.
To God be the glory great things He has done.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the group’s weekly Thursday meetings, 7–9 p.m. are suspended.